McLaughlin Garden visitors appreciate flowers at last year’s annual Lilac Festival. It will be held from May 22 to 25 this year.

McLaughlin lilac fest on Memorial weekend

PARIS – McLaughlin Garden will hold its annual Lilac Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Monday, May 22 to 25, Memorial Day weekend. The garden has more than 200 varieties of lilacs, one of the largest private collections in Maine.

A $5 admission fee is charged as a fundraiser, and free tours and presentations are held. Guests may visit the seasonal café, “The Gardener’s Table,” featuring new Executive Chef Natasha Durham, formerly chef/owner of Natasha’s and Brassiere Mimm’s of Portland. The Garden Gift Shop is open year-round.

Special guest will be Dr. John A. Boothby of Portland, who will read Walt Whitman’s “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 23. Tours of the garden will be offered each day of the festival at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and a lilac care workshop will be offered each day at 1 p.m.

For more information, call 743-8820 or visit www.mclaughlingarden.org.